Key points
- Common leak points: the sink flange, the dishwasher hose connection, the drain pipe, and the disposal body.
- A leak from the bottom of the unit usually means it needs replacing.
- Water collects on the cabinet floor and can reach the subfloor before you notice.
- Swollen cabinet bottoms and musty smells are early signs.
Find the leak
- Top (sink flange): water around the sink opening — worn putty or loose mount
- Side (hoses): drips at the dishwasher inlet or the drain elbow — loose clamp or failed gasket
- Bottom: leaking from the unit itself — internal seal failure, usually replace
What to do
- Stop using the sink and the dishwasher, and unplug the disposal or turn off its breaker.
- Empty the cabinet and dry the base.
- Have a plumber repair or replace the disposal.
- If the cabinet base is swollen or the floor below is wet, call us — we check the subfloor and walls with moisture meters. See water damage under the kitchen sink and water-damaged cabinets.
Vault documents the damage, records daily moisture readings, scopes in Xactimate, and bills State Farm, USAA, Allstate, Farmers, and Bear River Mutual directly.
Common questions
Can I fix a leaking sink flange myself?
Sometimes. A loose mounting ring can often be retightened. Re-sealing the flange with new plumber’s putty means taking the disposal down, which many homeowners do, but if you are not comfortable with it, call a plumber. To test, fill the sink, then hold a dry paper towel around the flange and each connection underneath.
How do I know if the cabinet floor or subfloor is wet?
Press on the cabinet base: soft or spongy spots, swelling at the edges and peeling laminate are signs. Look at the back wall of the cabinet for stains. A moisture meter gives a real reading. Water that ran under the cabinet base usually cannot dry without opening the toe kick, and that is where we check with meters.
Is a garbage disposal leak covered by insurance?
A sudden failure that floods the cabinet may be covered. A slow drip that went on for months is often treated as maintenance and excluded — see sudden vs. gradual water damage. General information, not insurance advice.
Wet sink cabinet?
Call (385) 250-2825 — answered live 24/7 by the Vault crew.
Water damage services · Dishwasher leaks · Hidden water damage